More great retro dating game shows

Published: February 25, 2014;Last modified: February 27, 2014 11:29AM

“Love Connection” — Long before there was Internet dating, there was video dating, in which hopeful singles recorded videotapes describing themselves, their interests, hobbies, etc. in hopes of catching someone’s eye.

Hosted by the great Chuck Woolery, the show was conceived as a modernized variant of “The Dating Game,” but with the opposite perspective. “Love Connection” addressed the other end of the encounter: By the time the couple appeared on the show, they had already met and gone on a date. The guest had been offered his or her choice of three candidates selected by the show’s producers. The choice was made solely on the basis of videotaped profiles. The couple then went on what was essentially a blind date, their first (and often only) face-to-face encounter.

After the date, an appearance on the show would be scheduled for the purpose of discussing the details of the date.

Studio audience members also voted on the candidate they thought would be the guest’s best choice.

If the date had gone well, and a majority of studio audience members had agreed with the guest’s choice, Woolery would congratulate the happy couple for making a “love connection.” After confirming that they wished to see each other again — usually a formality, but in rare instances successful couples would elect not to pursue a further relationship — they would be offered a second date at the show’s expense.

In the event that the date had been successful but the audience had made a different selection, the guest was given the choice of a second date with the same candidate, or a date with the candidate chosen by the audience.

If the guest and the audience had both been wrong — that is, the guest and audience had picked the same candidate, but the date had not gone well — the guest was offered a date with either of the two unsuccessful candidates.

Naturally, the best moments came when the couples hit it off like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. While the premise of the show was to try to bring people together, the most entertaining episodes occurred when the exact opposite happened. Listening to the awkward singles hash out the reasons for the failed date made for extremely funny viewing.

The show was one of the biggest game show hits of the 1980s and early 1990s, and helped revive Woolery’s hosting career. At 11 seasons and 2,000-plus episodes, it was one of the longest lasting game shows in syndication.

As of 1993, of the roughly 22,000 couples who met on the show, there were a total of 29 marriages, eight engagements and 15 children, according to Woolery.

“Studs” — Although criminally short lived, this was yet another variation on “The Dating Game” as well as “Love Connection.” But much more spicy and explicit.

Hosted by Mark DeCarlo, it ran in syndication from March 11, 1991 to Sept. 3, 1993. The premise: Two men go on dates with three women; afterward, the men would have to match answers with the women regarding the date. Each correct answer would win the man a stuffed heart.

At the end of each episode, each woman would decide which man they chose as a “stud” and wanted to go out with again. If the men could correctly guess which woman chose them, both received an all-expense paid date to a location of their choice. In the event that two couples chose correctly, the man with the most stuffed hearts won the date.

A few episodes featured variations on the usual theme, with individual shows having two women date three men, (this episode was alternatively titled “Studettes”) women who went out with younger men, women who wanted to go out with millionaires, and men who went out with magazine centerfolds.

Oh, and those fashion statements: a man wearing a vest with no shirt; parachute pants tucked into combat boots; women with poofed-out poodle perms and men with Kip Winger mullets.

Ah, the good old days.

“Change of Heart” — Another unfortunately short-lived dating show, with yet another twist. The premise involved couples together less than a year matched up, respectively, with a “blind date.” The new “couples” each went on a date.

During the show, the couples first discussed their relationship — which was often problematic, of course — and then their new dating experience. Many times, this date was quite steamy and romantic, which led to many an uncomfortable squirming on the part of the partner having to listen to it.

At the end of show, each member of the couple decide if they wanted to “Stay Together” or if they had a “Change Of Heart.”

Call me cynical, but the greatest shows were the ones in which one or both of the couple decided to see if the grass was greener on the other side. The looks on the faces of the rejected parties were pure priceless viewing, as were the jibes and insults hurled at the new dating prospects.